VoiceCon 2009: Cisco announces UC interoperability with Microsoft and others, plus an iPhone surprise

Cisco has rolled out an interoperability solution between its UC system and CiscoWebEx Connect and Microsoft Office Communications Server, plus a group of new telepresence products.

The company has introduced he Cisco Unified Communications Desktop Integration extensible unified client services framework to expose Cisco Unified Communications services to other applications. Features "exposed" include softphone with mid-call control features, messaging, conferencing, desk phone control and phone presence; all exposed functions that can be integrated within desktop applications.

Observers shouldn't be surprised at integration with Cisco WebEx Connect - c'mon, it owns the company. However, integration with Microsoft Office Communicator will prove to be a pleasant surprise for enterprises running mixed/multi-vendor networks and IT shops.

For other interoperability tidbits, Cisco sneaked in an an iPhone App for call center supervisors to monitor Cisco Unified Contact Center Express and one-button access to Cisco WebEx Meeting Center from a Cisco Unified IP Phone.

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